Caterers

Catering is part of the food service industry and has been around for as long as there have been restaurants and beyond. As noted by a hospitality expert in an article by the National Association for Catering & Events, “Before World War II, catering was a status symbol for the very rich. Most of the catering occurred in hotels where the rich had a home away from home, where they sometimes occupied an entire floor. Many of these families were from Europe and so they stayed for long periods of time. Most had their own staff when they entertained. The Maître d' was a very respected person who supervised this staff.”

Many catering professionals cite the first major catered event in the United States may have been a grand ball that was hosted in Philadelphia in 1778, catered by a man named Caesar Cranshell. This event was held to celebrate the resignation of British General William Howe from his position leading British forces in America and the evacuation of British troops from the city. By the 1800s, the catering industry started to form and expand from Philadelphia to other states. Many African-Americans were early founders of well-respected and successful catering businesses.

Once viewed as a service available only to the very wealthy, catering today is used by many people for various types of gatherings.